Small stall or large household
If you’re still trying out flavours and working out how much you need, start with a small pack. Albert Heijn, Jumbo and PLUS list chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
Who are the different pack formats for?
Serving point with set portions
Pre-packed sachets can be handy for individual servings or self-service. Makro Nederland lists De Ruijter milk chocolate flakes in packs of 80 × 15 g sachets; decide for yourself what portion works for an oliebol.
Busy stall with a regular topping
A larger pack may make sense if you use the same topping often and have suitable storage space. Check the product format first: the 1.5 kg box listed by Bidfood for professional use contains sprinkles, not standard flakes.
What should you consider when buying?
First, decide how you’ll serve the topping and how much you expect to use. Then choose the product format and check the label for every variety you plan to offer.
Small retail pack
Best for: trying out flavours or keeping a limited amount in stock.
Trade-off: if you’re serving a lot of customers, you’ll need to open and top up packs more often.
Individual portions
Best for: topping you give to each customer or let them choose separately.
Trade-off: a fixed sachet size won’t necessarily be the right amount for one oliebol.
Larger topping pack
Best for: regular use of the same topping, once you’ve tested it.
Trade-off: sprinkles and baking flakes aren’t necessarily interchangeable with flakes intended as a bread topping.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity and stock | Work out how many oliebollen you expect to sell and how much topping you want to use. Then compare pack sizes and storage instructions. | If I don’t know how many I’ll sell yet, I don’t want to commit to a large stock of one flavour. Around 31% of consumers would put manageable stock levels first. |
| Serving and portions | Choose between sprinkling the topping yourself, giving it out separately or offering self-service. For sachets, check both the number of sachets and the amount in each portion. | If I give out topping separately, I want to know in advance how much is in each sachet. For around 31% of consumers, having a consistent way to serve it would be their first concern. |
| Allergens | Read the current label for every variety and make sure customers can get allergen information before ordering. | If I sell an unwrapped oliebol, I want to be able to tell customers which allergens are in the topping I use. This would be the main purchasing concern for around 23% of consumers. |
| Flavour and product format | Tell flakes apart from sprinkles and decorative flakes. Try your chosen topping on a warm oliebol before buying more. | If I serve the oliebol warm, I want to check that the flavour and finish suit what I offer. This would be the top priority for around 15% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘dark’ means ‘dairy-free’
Albert Heijn’s dark chocolate flakes list milk as an ingredient. Milk may also appear on the label of other dark varieties.
Base the information you give customers on the exact pack you use, not on the flavour name.
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Treating sprinkles and flakes as the same product
Bidfood lists De Ruijter dark chocolate sprinkles in a 1.5 kg pack, while Makro Nederland lists METRO Chef dark chocolate flakes in a 700 g pack. These are different product formats.
Before placing a larger order, try your chosen topping on a warm oliebol to see how it sprinkles, sticks and looks.
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Continuing to use an out-of-date label
If the flavour, product or packaging changes, the allergen information you give customers may no longer match the topping you’re using.
Check every variety you receive and update the information at your point of sale as soon as you switch products.
Brands compared
De Ruijter
Flakes in smaller packs, as well as milk chocolate flakes in individual portions.
- Makro Nederland lists a pack of 80 × 15 g portions for table or buffet service.
- The 1.5 kg box listed by Bidfood contains dark chocolate sprinkles, not standard flakes.
Jumbo
Own-brand chocolate flakes in 300 g packs, including a dark variety.
- A small pack gives you the chance to try your chosen flavour first.
- Check the current allergen information for the dark variety before giving customers information about milk.
Albert Heijn
Own-brand dark chocolate flakes in a 300 g pack.
- The pack size suits a small trial stock.
- The dark variety described contains whole milk powder, so ‘dark’ doesn’t mean dairy-free here.
PLUS
Own-brand dark and milk chocolate flakes in 300 g packs.
- The two varieties give you a choice of dark or milk chocolate for a small trial.
- The milk variety contains milk and lactose; check the label for the variety you choose.
METRO Chef
Dark chocolate flakes in a 700 g pack, listed by Makro Nederland among its baking and chocolate toppings.
- The pack is larger than the 300 g supermarket packs mentioned above.
- Check the ingredients, allergens and intended use of the exact variety before choosing it for oliebollen.
Products for a small trial stock
These 200–300 g packs are options for trying a flake flavour or another chocolate topping on oliebollen. Products containing sprinkles or a different flake mix aren’t necessarily the same as standard chocolate flakes.
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g'woon Milk Chocolate Flakes, 300 g
A small pack to try if you want to offer milk chocolate flakes.
Check the allergens on the pack you receive and try the flakes on a warm oliebol first.
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De Ruijter Flake Feast, 200 g
A small pack for trying a different flake mix as a topping.
Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack, and see how the mix works on a warm oliebol.
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De Ruijter Intense Pure Chocolate Sprinkles, 200 g
A small pack for trying sprinkles instead of standard flakes.
Check how the product works on a warm oliebol and read the label before giving customers allergen information.
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Sprinkles Choca Flakes, 200 g
A small pack to see whether this cocoa topping suits what your stall offers.
Check the exact product format and allergens on the pack, and try the topping before placing a larger order.
Frequently asked questions
What size should I start with for a small oliebollen stall?
A 200–300 g pack is a practical place to start if you still want to test the flavour and how it works on warm oliebollen. Then use your own sales figures and preferred amount of topping to decide whether a larger pack is right for you.
When are individual sachets useful?
Sachets work well for topping you give to each customer or offer for self-service. The De Ruijter pack listed by Makro Nederland contains 80 sachets of 15 g; try them to see whether that amount suits your oliebollen and how you serve them.
Do I need to tell customers about allergens in flakes?
Yes. If you serve oliebollen with topping, you must inform customers about any allergens in the product you offer. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights this information requirement. Check the exact topping variety and make sure customers can get the information before buying.
Are dark chocolate flakes always dairy-free?
No. Albert Heijn’s dark chocolate flakes list milk as an ingredient. Check the current label for every variety you buy instead of relying on the word ‘dark’.
How should I store flakes for my stall?
Follow the storage instructions on the pack for your chosen variety. Seal opened packs carefully, and keep the information about the topping you use up to date whenever you change products.